How to Tell if You’re Turnt Up or Turned Down

When Kanye West first used “turnt” in a sentence I made it my business to understand the word. I was later introduced to the concept of “turning up,” which I grasped rather quickly because I’m a fast learner.

Then along came the business of turning down. This, I assumed, was a synonym for being turnt up. Apparently it’s not.

And I wasn’t the only one in the dark.

My confusion stemmed from DJ Snake & Lil Jon’s electronic anthem, “Turn Down for What.” The song is one of the catchiest, jazziest, and most annoying tracks of recent months. It’s hyper and fast-paced. It’s like the “Harlem Shake” on sizzurp. It makes me dance like a drunk baby at an EDM concert, so if “turnt” means crunk and “turnt up” equals wild, then isn’t “turning down” just the same thing in a new dress?

No. But to my credit, even Lil’ Jon seemed confused. (Hi, he didn’t even know what he was turning down for.)

So in the name of education, investigative journalism and weekend parties on the horizon, I did my research and came up with a guide.

How to Tell if You’re Turnt, Turnt Up or Turned Down:

Turnt was first added to the Urban Dictionary on August 2, 2005 by Erica Peters. It’s her only entry, and seeing as the first time I heard the word was in February via a Kanye West remix, I’m going to go ahead and assume “Erica Peters” is Kanye West’s screen name.

According to Kanye/Erica, Turnt means:

“Horny, Drunk, f*cked up!! Crunk!!

Damn, I am all turnt on! or I am getting Turnt to night at the club!”

Turnt Up is similar. User KayBee{LD} — who must be some sort of pilgrim from the year 1621 due to her repeated use of the use of the word “thee” — defined Turnt Up as:

“- Thee act of getting drunk and high to thee highest degree 

- Getting loose {whether that be just being wild or engaging in sexual activity}

- Shanay got supper turnt up at thee party last night.”

So if you’re still with me we can acknowledge that turnt and turnt up are essentially the same thing. Both mean you’re partying excessively hard.

Turn Down is, according to Urban Dictionary, what “irritated” people say to those who claim they are “turned up.” It means “to not get rowdy, remain calm.” Used in a sentence, the slang-site provides this: “Man, turn down already and stfu.”

And here’s where I had my moment of clarity: Lil’ Jon must have been turnt way, way up. Super up. And someone, perhaps his neighbor, asked him to “turn down.” His response: a proper rebuttal in the form of feigned ignorance. “Turn down for what,” he asked defiantly. “Turn down for what?”

So being turned down is the opposite of being turnt up. Confusion only happens because the word turn double-dips! If you have trouble remembering this, focus instead on the preposition that follows:

Up = hyper. Down = calm.

Still with me?

The woman in the photo above, for example, is turned down. (However, judging by her party attire and sparkly decor, it’s possible she had been turned up, and is now reaching descent.)

Let’s pause for a quiz:

Are you smiling? (Yes) (No)

Are you drinking? (Yes) (No)

Are you grinding on something? (Yes) (No)

Have you broken any house plants? (Yes) (No)

Are you loudly shouting and wooing and flailing your arms like a maniac? (Yes) (No)

Are you refusing to sit down quietly and think about what you’ve done? (Yes) (No)

Are you starting fights? (Yes) (No)

Are you braiding a stranger’s hair? (Yes) (No)

If you said mostly yes: Congratulations! You’re turnt and turnt up. They are the same thing, remember!

If you said mostly no: That’s okay! You’re turned down. Maybe it’s nap time. Going home is probably the better move, just don’t try and drag Lil’ Jon down with you. It only makes him turn up higher.

And if your answers were somewhere in between…

I’ll let you make the call. You’ve got the official guide at your fingertips, after all.